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Monday, April 2, 2012

Featured artist: Emily from Scissaroo

1. Tell us as little or as much as you would like about yourself.
Hi! My name is Emily and I live near St. Paul Minnesota. I am married to my wonderful husband, Jonathan, and we just welcomed our first child, a girl, into our family in February. I enjoy gardening, hiking, and photography.

2. What do you sell?
I make decorative items from wool felt. I make my felt from wool blankets, sweaters, and other garments.

3. Why handmade?
Making things gives me a sense of accomplishment and purpose. I love that I can make things that help support my family. I really like using reclaimed materials also. It’s fun to hunt through thrift stores and garage sales to find wool. I also feel like I am carrying on the tradition of penny rug making by recycling wool clothing.

4. Where does your inspiration to create come from and/or your inspiration in life?
I find inspiration in many different places. I love nature photography, and find that I am inspired from things that I see while enjoying that. I also have found inspiration while poking around antique stores and craft fairs.

5. Besides creating what else do you do? Do you have a full time job?
I worked at a small animal vet clinic in northern MN as a certified veterinary technician for 8 years, but left that job in August. My husband got a job in a city 2 hours away, so we relocated. I was also pregnant at the time. I really wanted to be a stay at home mom and my Etsy shop seemed to fit in well with that plan. So now, I take care of my little one, and I create for my Etsy shop. It really is my dream job. I love being my own boss and I also love being out of the 9-5 grind.

6. When did you start thinking you were an artist?
I’m not sure. I started making penny rugs as presents for family and really enjoyed making them. Then I found Etsy and decided to try selling online. I don’t think it really has sunk in yet. Sometimes I will finish a piece and think, “wow, did I actually do that?”

7. Who has been most influential in your craft work?
My family is full of crafty and entrepreneurial people. My Mom ran her own craft business for years and would take me along to craft fairs when I was young. My older sister was an avid knitter, and I liked to sit near her when she would knit. My Grandmothers also influenced me. One sold crafts at craft fairs, and one made wonderful wedding and birthday cakes that she would sell locally. My brother is also very artistic, and I had a great art teacher in high school that really encouraged me.

8. Where would you like to be in five years?
I would love to be back in in northern MN, and still be mothering and creating!

9. Is there anything you'd like to try doing that you haven't done?
crafts, sports, life in general?
I would love to learn more about woodworking and building things. Right now, we live in an apartment, so there is not much room for those types of things.

Emily's function is actually stunning! I really like the actual candlestick pads. That's this type of distinctive method to show the pillar candlestick. It's fantastic which your woman might have the company whilst remaining house along with the woman's lovable newborn!